2015 EYH Workshops

Student Workshops

Light in the Deep Sea

Come discover patterns in the adaptations of deep sea animals! Learn about the light spectrum, camouflage, and how deep sea organisms use properties of light to help them survive!

Strawberry DNA Extraction

All living things have DNA inside their cells. How do scientists extract the DNA from cells in order to study it? In this workshop, you will get to perform an experiment to extract DNA from strawberries. In just a few simple steps, you will actually see the strands of strawberry DNA appear in the test tube before your very eyes!

Why is ketchup so hard to pour?

Ever wonder why ketchup is so hard to pour? In this workshop you will learn why! You will handle a mystery substance that has qualities of both a solid and a liquid (oobleck) and experience the properties of different phases of materials.

The Art of Science

Do you love science AND art, and wonder how they fit together? Welcome to the field of science illustration! In this workshop we’ll cover some history of the intersection between art and science; learn what a professional science illustrator does; and practice our observational drawing skills. We’ll talk about some of the artist-explorers who traveled the world and created drawings and paintings of their discoveries, and discuss how that relates to modern-day illustrators using digital tools to illustrate complex scientific research. Then we’ll spend some time sketching natural objects (flowers, feathers, seashells and the like), practicing the observational skills that are important to scientists and artists alike. All skill levels welcome!

Building Mountains and Oceans - Plate Tectonics

The earth is a complex and dynamic system. The continents have been different in the past from how we know them today, and their evolution and movement create the mountains and ocean basins we are familiar with. In this workshop, students will have the opportunity to explore the physical structure of the earth and its plates, simulate their movement, and see how they change the surface of Earth over long periods of time.

Identifying Planets: How Astronomers Use Light to Study Astrophysical Objects

Learn how astronomers study light from distant objects to infer the physical laws of the universe. We'll use arc lamps that contain a single-element gas and, working in groups, you'll make observations of the different elements and determine what elements the spectral signatures correspond to by comparing their observations with a spectral list of several elements. Your job is to work together and decide the elements that correspond with each lamp!

Exploring the World of Dental Health

Join us as we present and introduce dental concepts through fun, interactive drills. Identify plaque, learn about oral health, develop dental x-rays and have fun with dental impression materials. Enjoy a brief overview and summary of skills required for the practice of dental hygiene and dental assisting.

Kelp Forest Challenge

Venture back to 1984, when the Monterey Bay Aquarium planned to display live kelp in its Kelp Forest Exhibit. No aquarium had ever done it before for one simple reason -- they couldn't keep kelp alive in a tank. Put yourself in the shoes of our exhibit designers -- can you engineer a solution that will keep kelp alive in an exhibit tank? Work your way through the engineering process as you try to solve this real engineering challenge!

All About the Planets

In this workshop, you will learn all about the planets. You will participate in activities that will allow you to envision the distance and size scales of the planets in our Solar System. We will also discuss some of their important characteristics. Lastly, we will go to the Planetarium to view a show about the planets.

Ocean Currents

Learn how changes in water temperature and salinity create density currents and circulation patterns in the ocean.

Ocean Acidification: Corals on Acid

As the ocean becomes more acidic, corals are suffering. Learn about ocean acidification and how it impacts ocean life. See how the pH of water changes when CO2 bubbles are introduced. Find out how the weight of a coral changes due to dissolution with an acid.

The Pulse of the Slough

Come explore the pulsing tides in the Elkhorn Slough! Learn how to read tide charts and discuss the importance of understanding the tides in the Elkhorn Slough. Learn about the animals that live in the tidal wetlands of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve and most importantly why the health of the Slough is so important to these creatures. Spend time with an Elkhorn Slough Reserve naturalist while you explore not only the tides and water quality factors of the Elkhorn Slough but also other estuaries around the country using a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data base. Participants will be given a real life weather story, and use what they’ve learned to solve the mystery.

Turning Pennies into Malachite

Learn about chemistry by turning a copper penny into the copper carbonate-copper hydroxide complex found in the mineral malachite. Students will learn about oxidation-reduction chemistry by dissolving a penny in acid. Students will then learn about precipitation chemistry by neutralizing the acid with carbonate and hydroxide, yielding the mineral malachite.

Exploring Plankton

Join us as we dive into the exciting world of marine science! For this session we will focus on the study of microscopic plankton. You will gain skills in identifying different species of phytoplankton and zooplankton through exploration of a live sample. You'll practice STEM techniques as you calculate the volume of water sampled, make your own slide of plankton, and gain microscopy skills as you catalogue specimens to determine the variety of zooplankton species present. We will end with a brief overview of marine science focuses including engineering, research, and animal husbandry.

Water for Food: Yesterday's Witches are Today's Wizards

Come see how a once aspiring poet turned soil scientist, the daughter of an apple grower emerged into an ag economist, and a women’s studies major became an ag educator and all found their passions in Agriculture. We will share the diverse paths we traveled to apply Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to create the wonder of year round strawberries, and protect the soil and water that produce them. Hands on activities including eating strawberries with three cool scientists eager to hear your ideas.

Parent/Teacher Workshops:

Current Trends and Best Practices in Science Education

Come learn about how science education is changing in the classroom with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards! As one of the 12 teachers on the writing panel, Stephanie Pechan will explain these shifts and provide resources for STEM activities for both at home and in the classroom!

College Life Workshop

Would you like to find out more about the academic and social lives of young women in college? Then this is the workshop for you. You will have the opportunity to ask college age women questions and will leaving knowing how to better support your daughter.